Echinacea plant named ‘Meringue’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Meringue’, characterized by its upright, columnar and compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; and large inflorescences with light yellow green-colored ray florets and yellow green-colored disc florets.

Botanical designation: Echinacea purpurea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Meringue’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea purpurea, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Meringue’.

The new Echinacea is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in IJsselstein and Zuidwolde, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Echinacea cultivars with attractive inflorescence form and floret coloration.

The new Echinacea originated from a cross-pollination in IJsselstein, The Netherlands in July, 2004 made by the Inventor of a proprietary selection of Echinacea purpurea, identified as code number Ec 301-36, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Echinacea purpurea identified as code number Ec 202-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinacea was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands in July, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea by micropropagation a controlled greenhouse environment in The Netherlands since September, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Echinacea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Meringue’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Meringue’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea:

-   -   1. Upright, columnar and compact plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Large inflorescences with light yellow green-colored ray         florets and yellow green-colored disc florets.

Plants of the new Echinacea differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea have stronger stems than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Echinacea and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Echinacea differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are shorter than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinacea purpurea ‘Coconut Lime’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,617. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Zevenhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Echinacea differed from plants of ‘Coconut Lime’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea were shorter than plants of         ‘Coconut Lime’.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Echinacea were lighter in         color than ray florets of plants of ‘Coconut Lime’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Echinacea. The photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Echinacea.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Meringue’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Meringue’. The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘Meringue’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Zevenhuizen, The Netherlands during the autumn in an outdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Echinacea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 11° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 3° C. to 15° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were one year from planting in containers when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea ‘Meringue’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea purpurea             identified as code number Ec 301-36, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea purpurea             identified as code number Ec 202-02, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By micropropagation.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five weeks at             21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; pale cream white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Upright, columnar and compact plant             habit; freely basal branching with about eight basal             branches developing per plant. Moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 44.1 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 20.9 cm.         -   Basal branches.—Length: About 24.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 3.9 cm. Aspect: Mostly upright.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent; rough. Color: Close to             144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate, elongated.         -   Margin.—Entire to slightly sinuate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 145A to 145B.         -   Petiole length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm to 3 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely             pubescent.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 145A to             145B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Rotate single inflorescence form with ray and             disc florets. Inflorescences positioned above the foliage on             strong peduncles and face upright. About ten inflorescences             per plant at a time. Inflorescences not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from late June to             mid-October in The Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about three weeks on the plant.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             2.2 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Between 143A and             146A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 5 cm. Disc diameter: About 5.7 cm. Receptacle height:             About 8 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.2 cm. Receptacle             color: Close to 155A.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             longitudinally ridged. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 21 arranged in a single whorl. Aspect:             Horizontal to reflexing. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 150D; towards the apex, close to 145D. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 150D; towards the apex,             close to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: Between 150D and             157A, becoming closer to 145A to 145B with development;             towards the apex, close to 145C. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 150C, color becoming closer to 145A with             development; towards the apex, close to 145A; towards the             base, close to 145B.         -   Disc florets.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Tubular, enlarged; apices acute. Number of disc             florets per inflorescence: About 450. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Immature, inner and             outer surfaces: Close to 150C; towards the apex, close to             145A. Mature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 150D;             towards the apex, close to 150C.         -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret. Shape:             Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Apex: Close to 22A. Mid-section: Close to             143A. Base: Close to 145C to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 60 in             about three whorls. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,             lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to             137A to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 138B; towards             the apex, close to 137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:             Pubescent; rough. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per floret: About             two. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to             165C. Anther shape: Oblong, short. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther color: Close to 165A to 165B. Pollen amount:             None observed. Gynoecium: Quantity per floret: One. Pistil             length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color:             Close to 150B to 150C. Style length: About 6 mm. Style             color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 157D.             Fruits/seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Echinacea have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Echinacea. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind, have been observed to tolerate     temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Meringue’ as illustrated and described. 